Following @oohaahmortimer's lead, I had a cheese-induced dream over the weekend that the takeover was being finalised today. For some reason I was summoned to the Valley to witness the consummation of this momentous event. Unfortunately the identity of our new owner(s) remained frustratingly elusive, as they appeared to be obscured by a haze... maybe it was just a mirage, induced by fatigue and too many dashed hopes.
Consistent with this, the official announcement (WIOTOS with Flaggy) was agreed by the parties to be "low key". Something along the lines of "Mr Duchatelet has transferred his shares in the club to new owners as of today. Further details are confidential at this moment but a further announcement will be made in the coming weeks."
As with all good dreams, elements from my childhood were thrown into the mix. In particular, my journey to the Valley was via Kinveachy Gardens, which hasn't been my route of choice since the early 80's. So maybe our new owner is ... Mark Hulyer.
The delay in announcing a successful buyer is disconcerting.
This is a business valued only in the tens of millions with what, 150-200 employees. If a price has been agreed with 2 parties then I would assume they have both completed sufficient due diligence. I would imagine RD's lawyers would have had a draft Sale & Purchase agreement to share with the prospective buyers' lawyers as soon as the price was agreed. In my experience you get the two sets of lawyers to burn the midnight oil working to thrash out the final SPA terms, relaying issues back to the buyer and seller management on a real time basis. So I wonder what terms and conditions are holding up completion? Or, do the buyers still need to finalise their financing of the deal, or are they waiting for the EFL to complete the fit and proper test?
Whatever, I am surprised that the club have managed fairly effectively to keep a lid on the name of the buyers.
Not really that disconcerting (but admittedly very dull and annoying as we want him gone), the reason behind the delay (I expect) is as was hinted initially..
There is little impetus for the buyer to be saddled with losses while they cant influence the trajectory of the club.
Certainly while as others have mentioned our final finishing position is up for question this might affect the value, but as also said that could be factored in to any price one would think?
Il Duché has tried (I also expect) to push things on by means of 'other bids' and 'possible completion dates' but has clearly failed (he's not very good at not doing failure as we have seen many times).
If we were in with a chance of promotion I'd be more frustrated, but that clearly isn't a serious proposition.
The delay in announcing a successful buyer is disconcerting.
This is a business valued only in the tens of millions with what, 150-200 employees. If a price has been agreed with 2 parties then I would assume they have both completed sufficient due diligence. I would imagine RD's lawyers would have had a draft Sale & Purchase agreement to share with the prospective buyers' lawyers as soon as the price was agreed. In my experience you get the two sets of lawyers to burn the midnight oil working to thrash out the final SPA terms, relaying issues back to the buyer and seller management on a real time basis. So I wonder what terms and conditions are holding up completion? Or, do the buyers still need to finalise their financing of the deal, or are they waiting for the EFL to complete the fit and proper test?
Whatever, I am surprised that the club have managed fairly effectively to keep a lid on the name of the buyers.
Not really that disconcerting (but admittedly very dull and annoying as we want him gone), the reason behind the delay (I expect) is as was hinted initially..
There is little impetus for the buyer to be saddled with losses while they cant influence the trajectory of the club.
Certainly while as others have mentioned our final finishing position is up for question this might affect the value, but as also said that could be factored in to any price one would think?
Il Duché has tried (I also expect) to push things on by means of 'other bids' and 'possible completion dates' but has clearly failed (he's not very good at not doing failure as we have seen many times).
If we were in with a chance of promotion I'd be more frustrated, but that clearly isn't a serious proposition.
That's a good point but just reinforces the feeling that they probably haven't got much about them in terms of finance.
The delay in announcing a successful buyer is disconcerting.
This is a business valued only in the tens of millions with what, 150-200 employees. If a price has been agreed with 2 parties then I would assume they have both completed sufficient due diligence. I would imagine RD's lawyers would have had a draft Sale & Purchase agreement to share with the prospective buyers' lawyers as soon as the price was agreed. In my experience you get the two sets of lawyers to burn the midnight oil working to thrash out the final SPA terms, relaying issues back to the buyer and seller management on a real time basis. So I wonder what terms and conditions are holding up completion? Or, do the buyers still need to finalise their financing of the deal, or are they waiting for the EFL to complete the fit and proper test?
Whatever, I am surprised that the club have managed fairly effectively to keep a lid on the name of the buyers.
Not really that disconcerting (but admittedly very dull and annoying as we want him gone), the reason behind the delay (I expect) is as was hinted initially..
There is little impetus for the buyer to be saddled with losses while they cant influence the trajectory of the club.
Certainly while as others have mentioned our final finishing position is up for question this might affect the value, but as also said that could be factored in to any price one would think?
Il Duché has tried (I also expect) to push things on by means of 'other bids' and 'possible completion dates' but has clearly failed (he's not very good at not doing failure as we have seen many times).
If we were in with a chance of promotion I'd be more frustrated, but that clearly isn't a serious proposition.
That's a good point but just reinforces the feeling that they probably haven't got much about them in terms of finance.
Not necessarily could just be sound business people.
Additionally, they weren’t worried about the transfer window which could equally imply the opposite of your assertion.
I'd quite like to know more about the Belgian ambassador was it - but can't remember whether it was in the last 18 pages, 28 pages, 38 pages, 48 pages -- you get the drift - looked a bit Upstart Crow as I recall but can't face searching all the way back to check.
I'd quite like to know more about the Belgian ambassador was it - but can't remember whether it was in the last 18 pages, 28 pages, 38 pages, 48 pages -- you get the drift - looked a bit Upstart Crow as I recall but can't face searching all the way back to check.
The air of general despondency has developed into a cloud of thick asphyxiating depression. The lack of positive news combined with recent underwhelming results has caused a malaise only comparable to the one induced when it became apparent that we would be in a lower division than the spanners and two below the nigels. Serious worries that there is actually no one running the club, not even one of Two Shat's darling incompetents, have led some to question whether we'd be actually better off with Mare back at the helm - oh, ok I made that up for effect but you get my drift. Things have become absolutely unbearable as the senile old goat continues to play his idiotic game of pissing off every single potential buyer. Missing the last 18 pages is one of the wisest choices you could have made.
Rad. Season tickets can be delivered via Prime membership, turn the Jimmy Seed into a grocery store and rename the stadium the "Whole Foods Valley." And the parking lot in back can be turned into a launch pad. Not for the club but for Bezos' Blue Origin rocket.
Not really that disconcerting (but admittedly very dull and annoying as we want him gone), the reason behind the delay (I expect) is as was hinted initially..
There is little impetus for the buyer to be saddled with losses while they cant influence the trajectory of the club.
Certainly while as others have mentioned our final finishing position is up for question this might affect the value, but as also said that could be factored in to any price one would think?
Il Duché has tried (I also expect) to push things on by means of 'other bids' and 'possible completion dates' but has clearly failed (he's not very good at not doing failure as we have seen many times).
If we were in with a chance of promotion I'd be more frustrated, but that clearly isn't a serious proposition.
That's a good point but just reinforces the feeling that they probably haven't got much about them in terms of finance.
Not necessarily could just be sound business people.
Additionally, they weren’t worried about the transfer window which could equally imply the opposite of your assertion.
Oh, I have no issue with a buyer being sound business wise. I just hope that is allied with some ambition for the club. We will just have to wait and see.
Rad. Season tickets can be delivered via Prime membership, turn the Jimmy Seed into a grocery store and rename the stadium the "Whole Foods Valley." And the parking lot in back can be turned into a launch pad. Not for the club but for Bezos' Blue Origin rocket.
Fine by me. We'd still be launched into orbit, even on his version of a tight budget.
Radio 4 ran the story about Charlton being the community club of the year this morning. It began 'Charlton Athletic have.....' and just for a second I though it was the takeover announcement.
Comments
*This is a joke if anyone is reading this
I’m hoping its just a case of “the calm before the (go batshit crazy Roly has sold the club) storm”!
This is a business valued only in the tens of millions with what, 150-200 employees. If a price has been agreed with 2 parties then I would assume they have both completed sufficient due diligence. I would imagine RD's lawyers would have had a draft Sale & Purchase agreement to share with the prospective buyers' lawyers as soon as the price was agreed. In my experience you get the two sets of lawyers to burn the midnight oil working to thrash out the final SPA terms, relaying issues back to the buyer and seller management on a real time basis. So I wonder what terms and conditions are holding up completion? Or, do the buyers still need to finalise their financing of the deal, or are they waiting for the EFL to complete the fit and proper test?
Whatever, I am surprised that the club have managed fairly effectively to keep a lid on the name of the buyers.
There is little impetus for the buyer to be saddled with losses while they cant influence the trajectory of the club.
Certainly while as others have mentioned our final finishing position is up for question this might affect the value, but as also said that could be factored in to any price one would think?
Il Duché has tried (I also expect) to push things on by means of 'other bids' and 'possible completion dates' but has clearly failed (he's not very good at not doing failure as we have seen many times).
If we were in with a chance of promotion I'd be more frustrated, but that clearly isn't a serious proposition.
Additionally, they weren’t worried about the transfer window which could equally imply the opposite of your assertion.
I think Konsa would have been gone over the winter if he had no intention of selling.
That, my American cousin, is known as Pothole Place and is an iconic area of tarmac/gravel/puddles beloved of all Charlton fans.
That's like saying St Helena produces a decent plonk.
Then I woke up.
CHARLTON TAKEOVER dreams crushed